intance, and
cannot conceive what interest he can possibly have in any matter
relating to my honour, you may go back to him, sir, and tell him I
positively decline to accede to his request, which--to say the least of
it--is a very singular one to make to a Corsican noble."

"I regret to say that the general, anticipating the possibility of your
refusal, has ordered me, in such a case, to arrest you. It is a
disagreeable necessity, which I would much rather have avoided; but you
leave me no alternative. Count Lorenzo di Paoli, I arrest you in the
name of the National Assembly, on a charge of conspiracy," answered the
Frenchman, stepping forward and attempting to lay his hand on the
count's shoulder.

"Stand back, sir!" cried Count Lorenzo, stepping back a pace and
levelling a pistol at the officer's head. "I am fully acquainted with
your general's designs against me; and I decline to walk into the trap
which he has set for me. I repudiate and defy his authority, which I
will resist to the death; and you may go back and tell him so."

"Ha! say you so?" exclaimed the Frenchman. "Rash man, you will soon
feel the power of the authority which you have so arrogantly defied, for
I may inform you that I have at hand a party strong enough to _compel_
your submission; and my orders are, not to return to Ajaccio without
you."

"Then go, sir, and bring up your party," retorted the count scornfully;
"and we will endeavour to give you such a reception as shall teach your
general to beware how he attempts to molest a Corsican noble for the
future."

The French officer bowed, raised his shako, and somewhat hastily
retired, withdrawing his men from the terrace directly he joined them;
and we stood watching them down the drive, until, having reached a point
about midway between the terrace and the avenue, and well out of musket-
shot, the little party halted; a bugle-call was sounded; and we saw a
large body of men deploy into line beneath the trees and advance along
the drive at the double.

We then retreated to the interior of the chateau, carefully locking and
barring the great door behind us; and, closing the barriers on the grand
staircase as we ascended, made the best of our way to the principal
floor, from whence we had decided to conduct the defence in the first
instance.

Our dispositions for the defence of the chateau were simple in the
extreme. We had only the front of the house to defend, the sides and
rear bei